Borrowing the title of a Lord of the Rings
prequel, it was an unexpected journey for us because our original destination
was Tagaytay. Countless establishments in the
city were closed including Picnic Grove and Sky Ranch due to the repairs after
typhoon Glenda wrecked havoc recently. People were already recovering then but the commercial places were still undergoing repairs. We were supposed to head home but due to our usual habit of unplanned trips and spur of the moment decisions; we
parked by the road side to ask about boat rides to Taal Lake.

The trip going down to the Talisay,
Batangas was dangerous. There were countless debris of fallen trees and even
electrical posts left by the road side down through Ligaya drive. The road
itself can be comparable to a snake road due to numerous curves similar to
Baguio City. We didn’t drive through the same road again going back to Manila
and passed through Star Tollways and then SLEX instead.

Going back to trip, we managed to safely
get through the resort anyway and paid for a boat reserved just for our group.
A boat ride (back and forth trip) costs Php 1,500. It was sunny while touring
the lake. It took about 25 minutes to reach the lake side where boats are
temporarily parked while waiting. Sadly, there were numerous dead fishes
floating. Most likely, they were killed during the recent typhoon.

Next, we went horseback riding following a
trail which you can actually hike although it may be tiresome to walk and
climb. A horse ride costs Php 500 for each passenger and another Php 500 for
all tour guides of the entire group (not each) assisting you while riding the horse.
If you’re scared (like me :), you can request for your guide to ride the horse
as well. They will ride several times anyway even without you requesting. A
child will be accompanied throughout the ride of course. Just a tip when
riding; lean forward when the trail is ascending and lean backward when it’s
descending to prevent falling and to make it easier for your horse which you
should be nice to by the way.

When it’s hot, you can rent hats and rain
coats when it’s rainy. You should also bring your own water or energy drinks
and purchase them before the horse ride because refreshments available on top
of the volcano are costlier. Also, the place is buzzing with tourists both
locals and foreigners during weekends and holidays so expect human traffic.

Along the trail, I eventually softened up
from being stiff with fear and learned to balance because my guide was
conversing with me. The view was breathtaking too. You’ll see hills and the
lake surrounding it as well as hear birds of various types all over the place.
You’d also pass by a path with hot volcano gases coming out of underneath. The
trip took almost an hour because we were slow although it normally takes just
about 30 minutes.

On top of the volcano, it was awe
inspiring. I could say “wow” unceasingly! Below, you’ll see water surrounding
the crater and can view the lake around the mountain range. I could also see high
rise condominium buildings and the Sky Ranch eye at Tagaytay from afar.

A nearby trail called Red Lava is also
available for just Php 50 per person. The place is made of lava formations that
are reddish, hence, the name. You’d feel steamy sulfuric gases coming out too.
And the view from this section is even better compared with the one that’s free
for the public.

Be careful with the slippery slopes when
going down the volcano to where your horse rests. I slipped and cut my right
leg because I was in a hurry. The horse ride going back to where boats are
docked is less stressful. However, it rained and I got soaked a bit because we
were traversing the trail ever slow again. On the boat, it was also wet with
waves but the breezy wind can easily dry your clothes.

All in all, this habit of unexpected
journeys is really worth it after seeing the breathtaking view of Taal Lake and
Taal Volcano’s crater.

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BlogPh.net (formerly Free Minds Free Lines, 2009-2013) is a blog defined by collective ideas of several writers from the Philippines and beyond. We write about travel, food, health, beauty, entertainment, social media, business, technology and more.